The Wreck Of The Henry Clay chords by Cathy Winter
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Verse 1
(A minor) Deep in the (E major) night
(G major) when the (A minor) full moon is round
Rises up the (E major) soul (G major) of young (A minor) Phoebe
who did drown
South from the marsh
(E major) where the (A minor) blue heron (E major) flies
Out (A minor) from the shoreline
(G major) can (A minor) you see her watery eyes
A steamer swift and new
was (G major) the (A minor) pride for Henry Clay.
Headed for New (E major) York (G major) on
(A minor) a brilliant July day,
the paddle wheels were glistening,
(E major) the (A minor) blades so fine an (E major) d clean.
The (A minor) boilers hiding far be (G major) low,
the (A minor) flames that turned the wheel.
From Albany she left (G major) the (A minor) Ar
menia right behind.
They fired up the (E major) boil (G major) ers
to (A minor) make faster time.
The clay pulled into Hudson.
(E major) The (A minor) Ar menia steamed right (E major) by.
And (A minor) from the crowds upon the (G major) wharf
arose (A minor) a startled cry.
For a challenge had been made
(G major) that the (A minor) crew would not let by.
So quickly now they (E major) loaded up (G major)
and (A minor) fares shot up sky high
into the Athens Channel
just (E major) to (A minor) see what she could (E major) do.
They (A minor) piled on the coal
un (G major) til sparks (A minor) and cinders flew.
The women grew afraid,
(G major) and the (A minor) men seemed no less as hot air
from the boilers cut across
the midship decks.
The gap was one full mile
when the clay began to shake. (E major)
Driv (A minor) en down Hudson
with 400 lives at stake
After Catskill Landing, (G major)
the (A minor) clay began to gain
The firemen at the bar
drank
and said they'd win the game
First one mile, then a quarter,
just one length, then side by side (E major)
Togeth (A minor) er rounding to the point,
they pushed against the tide
Then the clay pulled out ahead,
and the pilots swung around.
Caught across Armenia's (G major) bow
and (A minor) drove her towards low ground.
Then they fired up the boilers
just to keep that furious pace. (E major)
Passed (A minor) Kingston to Poughkeepsie,
so sure they'd won the race. (E major) (A minor)
Phoebe was 16
and this trip it was her first
Raised on an Ulster county farm
for travel she did first
Her uncle took her arm
as they boarded on the clay
It (E major) was (A minor) 1852
and a sunny July day
Decks were overcrowded
so (G major) they (A minor) headed down to dine
White linen on the tables
(G major) and (A minor) silverware so fine
Through the misty highlands
and beneath the palisades (E major)
Phoe (A minor) be's eyes grew wide
(G major) as at the (A minor) mountains she did gaze
Now it seemed there was no warning,
(G major) just a (A minor) cry within the flames
Breaking out at midships,
(G major) (A minor) closer the heat came
The pilot swung her eastward,
and towards the shore
she steamed. (E major)
(A minor) Phoebe got out to the deck (G major)
amid (A minor) st the sea.
Children, they were crying.
(G major) There was (A minor) panic through the boat.
Throwing planks and wooden chairs, (G major)
(A minor) hoping they would float.
Mothers seeking children,
husbands crying for their wives.
(E major) In (A minor) only 20 minutes
they (G major) would (A minor) lose 100 lives.
The bow and ramp, the bank,
(G major) and the (A minor) fire spread towards
the stern.
Passengers forced out.
(G major) Their (A minor) choice was drown or burn.
She could not find her uncle,
though she thought she
heard her name. (E major)
The (A minor) smoke was getting thicker.
She could hear the crackling flames.
So overboard she went,
(G major) across a (A minor) ramp, down a rope
Tried to reach a floating chair,
it seemed her only hope
And though her arms knew well
how to pull the water round
(E major) Her many (A minor) skirts grew heavy
(G major) and (A minor) quickly pulled her down
Many hours later, (G major) a (A minor) full moon did rise
Shown down on a smoking hull
(G major) and (A minor) many tearful eyes
Bodies pulled up on the bank crates
floating far from shore (E major)
The (A minor) pilot gazed out at his ship,
his race, there was no more
Now some things never change,
(G major) how some (A minor) men will prove their pride
By racing towards an aimless goal,
not caring who might die
To prove that speed is strength,
and strength the final (E major) test
The (A minor) winners in a nameless (G major) grave,
I (A minor) wonder, do they rest? (E major) (A minor)
Deep in the night,
when the full moon is round
Rises up the soul of young Phoebe
who did drown
South from the marsh
where the blue heron flies (E major)
(A minor) Out from the shoreline
can you see her watery eyes you
The Wreck Of The Henry Clay
Cathy Winter
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